Portable traffic control device



Nov. 1, 1949 R. a. W!LSON ET AL PORTABLE TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 26, 1948 /MMm/u a ATTORNEYS Nov. 1, 11949 R. E. WILSON ET AL 5 PORTABLE TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICE Filed Nov. 26, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 14 L TZQ 444 46 E Patented Nov. 1, 1949 UNITED STATES TENT QFFICE Minneapolis, Antonio, Tex.

Minn., and Albert H. Tracy, San

ApplicationNovember 26, 1948, Serial No. 62,052

5 Claims.

This invention relates to portable traffic control devices. At the present time many emergency situations arise on highways which require the control of traffic by peace ofiicers and others to prevent accidents from occurring. Many of these emergenc conditions arise through a first accident, a fire, a traffic block as when road repairs are being made, or when an examination of all traffic within a certain area is to be made to apprehend a criminal known to be in that area. It is highly desirable that there be provided for use by peace ofiicers and others a portable traflic control device which can be carried in an automobile and can be very quickly set up for use to control traflic in emergency situations.

It is an object of the present invention to provide such a device which is of cheap and simple construction and which can be effectively used to slow or stop trafiic, particularly at night, and warn of the emergency situation.

The objects and advantages of the invention will more fully appear from the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to the same or similar parts throughout the different views, and in which;

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a portable traific control device embodying the invention collapsed and ready to be transported;

Fig. 2 is a View in front elevation of the device in extended condition set up ready for use;

Figv 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 as is indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken substantially along the irregular line 5-4 of Fig. 2 as is indicated by the arrows;

Fig.5 is a vertical transverse section through the device when in collapsed condition.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section through portions of one of the standards taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5 as is indicated by the arrows, the view being in enlarged scale;

Fig. '7 is a vertical taken on the line I-'l of Fig. 2 as is indicated by the arrows; and

Fig. 8 is a wiring diagram of the device.

In accordance with the invention, there is provided a rectangular base plate 9 having secured by hinges l thereto at opposite sides thereof a pair of half casings ll which can be swung upwardly from the base plate 9 as shown in Figs. -1 and to bring the edges of the half casings into abutment and form rying case. Cooperating fastening elements i2 are provided adjacent the joining top edges of with said base plate a can section in enlarged scale 2 the half casings, as the carrying case is considered when it is closed, to retain the carrying case in closed condition and one of the half casings is provided with suitable handle Hi to permit the entire device to be readily carried.

Mounted on the base plate 9 are a pair of oppositely disposed telescopic standards, each designated as an entirety by the letter A. Each standard A includes a lower tubular section M screwed or otherwise secured to a socket 15 carried by the upper side of the base plate 9. Telescopically received within the lower section M for extension therefrom is an intermediate section IE, also preferably of tubular formation, while telescopically received within the intermediate section it for extension therefrom is an upper telescopic section ll. The upper ends of the lower section l4 and the intermediate section I6 are swedged inwardly at 14a and Ilia, respectively, to cooperate respectively with outwardly swedged lower end portions I61) and llb of the respective sections l6 and I1, thereby preventing complete removal of the section Hi from the section Hi and of the section i! from the section The section it and the section l6 are each provided with indented portions l lc which cooperate with shoulders produced respectively by the swedging of the lower ends of the sections l6 and H to normally prevent the extension of the section It from the section it beyond a certain point and to prevent extension of the section ll from the section it beyond a certain point. The section it carries near but spaced upwardly from its lower end a cross tube It within which is located a coil spring l9 bearing at its two ends against the heads of a pair of headed catch pins 28 which work within small openings provided in the wall of the section it, these pins acting as stops when the section it is fully extended from the section it to cooperate with the swedged portion Ma of the section it and prevent the downward telescoping of the section it until these pins are pressed inwardly as by the fingers of the operator. In similar manner, the upper section is provided with spring pressed stop pins 2i and associated parts which prevent the downward telescoping of the upper section I1 within the intermediate section 5 unless intended after the upper section ll has been extended from the intermediate section it. The intermediate sections it are made of somewhat greater length than the lower sections Hi.

The upper sections ll are equipped with outwardly extending ears 22 at the forward side of the device which ears, if desired, may be punched outwardly from the tubing forming these upper sections l1. Pivot pins 23 are received in each pair of ears 22 and journaled on these pivot pins are ears 24 formed on a pair of arms 25 which may be of tubular formation. These arms 25 are in turn interconnected at their upper ends by a cross bar 26 which centrally carries a light designated as its entirety by the letter B. The said light may include an interiorly screw threaded electric bulb socket 27 centrally Welded or otherwise secured to the bar 26 and to this socket is attached a parabolic reflector 28 carrying a glass 29. Within th socket 21 there is received first a thermostatic flasher 3G and then an. electric light bulb 3i, it being understood that the flasher 30, the details of which are not shown, will act to intermittently through thermostatic action break and make any circuit to the bulb 3! when the bulb is lit. Extending between the two arms 25 is a sign 32 carrying suitable printing matter 33 thereon, such as the word Stop. This sign 32 is located below the light B so it can be readily seen below the same. The two upper sections ll of the telescoping standards A are equipped with cross slots Ila just below the ears 22 to slidably receive any one of a number of signs 34 which will carry printing matter 35 on both sides thereof, such as appropriate to the occasion. Thus, on one side of the sign 34 such Words as Sheriff, Police, Fire, etc., may be printed, while on the other side of this sign such words as Slow may be printed.

The two arms 25, the cross bar 28, the sign 32, and the light B may all be swung downwardly about the pivot pins 23 so that the two arms 25 lie closely adjacent the standards A with the light B between the two standards as shown in Fig. 5, or, if desired, the said parts may be swung upwardly from the upper sections I! so that the arms 25 in effect form continuations of the two standards A. To hold the arms 25 in the upwardly extending position the arms are equipped near their lower ends with U-shaped spring clips 36 having the general shape of bicycle trouser clips and these clips will receive upper portions of the upper sections I! as the arms are swung upwardly therefrom.

Mounted on the base plate 9 are a pair of keepers 3'! within which oppositely disposed sliding bolts 38 are mounted and these bolts may be extended laterally from the hinged edges of the base plate 9 to overlie the main panels of the half casings II when they are downwardly swung to horizontal position, and the bolts are adapted to be received within keepers 39 mounted on the said panels and the bolts may thus be used to retain the two half casings H in extended position. Mounted on the inner sides of the panels of each half casing H are a pair of headed rods 48 on which battery holding hooks 4| are mounted, these hooks being engageable with screws 42 also carried by the main panels of the half casings l l. Batteries 43 of the hot shot dry cell type are adapted to be carried b the half casings H the socket 21 of the light B, the other contact of the socket being grounded. The switch 44 also includes a fixed contact 44d with which the movable contact 440 may be engaged, but no wire runs from the contact 4412, and accordingly, no circuit will be established from either battery 43 to the light B when the movable contact 440 is engaged with contact 44d.

Normally, the device will be retained in collapsed condition as shown in Fig. 1 and in Fig. 5 with the telescoping standards A collapsed within the carrying case as shown and with the arms 25 and light B swung downwardly as is indicated and with the cooperating fastening elements l2 engaged. In this condition the device can be very easily handled and transported as in an automobile by a peace oificer such as a policeman, a sheriff, or the like, ready for emergency use when the occasion arises. When an emergency situation occurs requiring the control of trafiic as at an accident, fire, or the like, the peace oflicer arriving at the scene of the emergency can quickly open up the carrying case by releasing the cooperating fastening elements l2, whereupon the two half casings II will be swung downward to a horizontal position as is illustrated in Figs. 2, 3, and 4, and the bolts 31 can be extended to lock the half casings in this position. Thereupon, the arms 25 may be swung upwardly to cause the spring clips 36 to engage the upper sections I! of the two standards and by grasping the cross bar 26 and pulling it upwardly, the intermediate telescoping sections I 6 may be extended from the lower sections l4, and the upper telescopic sections l i may be extended from the intermediate sections 16. The movable contact 440 of the three pole switch 44 may be then swung to engage it with one of the fixed contacts 44a or 441), whereupon a circuit will be established from the selected battery 43 to the bulb 3| and the device will be set in operation and the bulb 3| will be intermittently lit to give a flashing signal from the light B. Preferably, the glass 29 will be colored red to indicate danger. Of course, as the intermediate and upper sections it and I! of the two standards are fully extended, the catch pins 20 and 2| will be forced outwardly to prevent distention of the standards A. The two batteries 43 being quite heavy will act as weights to retain the portable traffic control device upright in the extended position. The sign 34 carrying the desired printing matter will normally be already inserted in place within the slots 25a before the device is put into use, and accordingly, the printing matter on both signs 32 and 34 will be displayed in a prominent position to be read by the drivers of all vehicles approaching the emergency situation on the highway. The flashing light will give warning of the emergency situation well in advance of the point of emergency and vehicle trafiic will accordingly be warned and will come to a stop. After the vehicles have stopped, the peace officer can direct traffic as required. Usually, two of the traffic control devices will be employed on a highway, one at either side of the emergency situation facing in opposite directions and cars approaching and passing a first one of the devices in one direction at night will be enabled to read the rear printing on the sign 34 on the other device to proceed according to the directions on that sign. The printed matter 33 and 35 on the two signs will preferably be made of a reflective type of material so that this printed matter will stand out well to be easily read. Obviously, the device can be very easily set up and, of course,

it can be readily collapsed when the emergency is over. The two batteries 43 are provided and the three pole switch 44 is employed so that either battery can be used to establish the circuit to the light, whereupon if one battery wears down the other battery can be employed.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement, and proportions of the various parts without departure from the scope of the present invention, which, generally stated, consists in the matter shown, and described, and set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A portable traflic control device comprising a base plate, a pair of half casings hinged to opposite edges of said base plate and swingable upwardly therefrom to abut and form with said base plate a carrying case, a battery carried at the inside of one of said half casings and swingable downwardly with the same to weight the lower portion of the device, a pair of telescoping standards mounted in upstanding relation on said base plate to be disposed when distended within said case when the case is closed adapted to be extended when the case is open to points well above the level of said base plate, a cross bar carried by the upper portions Of said standards, a light mounted on said cross bar, a sign carried by the upper portions of said standards below said light, and an electric circuit adapted to be established from said battery to said light.

2. A portable trafiic control device comprising a base plate, a pair of half casings hinged to op- .1'

posite edges of said base plate and adapted when swung upwardly to form with said base plate a carrying case, a battery mounted on the inner side of one of said half casings and adapted to be swung downwardly with the half casings to weight and stabilize the device, a pair of arms pivotally connected respective to the upper portions of said standards for swinging movement downwardly alongside the said standards to fit within said carrying case when the standards are distended and for extension upwardly above said standards when the standards are telescopically extended, means for retaining said arms in up-'. wardly swung position, a eross bar carried by said arms, a light mounted on said cross bar, a sign carried by the two arms adjacent said light, and an electric circuit adapted to be established from said battery to said light.

and

6 3. A portable traflic control device comprising a base plate, a pair Of half casings pivoted to oppiosite edges of said base plate and adapted when upwardly swung from said base plate to be brought into engagement to form with said base plate a carrying case, battery holders carried by said half casings at their inner sides, latches mounted for cooperative action between said base plate and said half casings to hold said half casings in downwardly swung position extended from the sides of said base standards mounted plate, a pair of telescoping on said base plate and adapted when distended to fit within the case ;'when closed and adapted to be raised in extendpair of arms pivotally connected to the upper 'e'd position to a level well above said base plate, a

- ends of said standards, a cross bar extending between said arms, a light carried by said cross bar, a sign below said light carried by said arms, said arms, cross bar, and light adapted to be swun downwardly adjacent said standards to fit within said case when the standards are distended and the case is closed, and adapted to be swung upwardly above said standards, means for cooperation between said arms and the upper ends of said standards for retaining the arms in upwardly swung position, and electric wiring for establishing an electrical ircuit from a battery held within one of said battery holders to said light.

4. The structure defined in claim 3, each of said standards including a plurality of telescopic sections and means for releasably retaining the sections of the standards in extended position as the standards are fully extended.

5. The structure defined in claim 4, said light including a flasher for intermittently interrupting and reestablishing the circuit to the light.

ROY E. WILSON. JOHN P. KISTLE. ALBERT H. TRACY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,546,501 Martus July 21, 1925 1,790,827 Manz Feb, 3, 1931 2,401,940 Lange June 11, 1946 

